Keith Penrose Burnham

Keith Penrose Burnham, 93, died Thursday, March 26, 2020 at his home in Holly Creek Retirement Community, in Centennial, CO. His passing was due to age related complications.

Keith was born December 29, 1926 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the fifth child and first son of Charles Penrose Burnham and Ethleen Forsgren Burnham. He joined the US Navy immediately upon graduation from East High School in 1945. He served as a Fireman First Class, and traveled extensively through the Pacific on the USS Burleson as World War II came to an end. He then attended the University of Utah where he earned his teaching credentials, and shared his graduation day with his mother, Ethleen, who also became an elementary school teacher.

He and Rheta Florence Earl were married in the Logan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on June 4, 1952. Keith and Rheta met in Deweyville, Utah, where he was a school teacher, and Rheta's younger sister, Julia, was in his class.

Keith and Rheta spent most of their married life in Pleasant Hill, CA. Keith taught school, but was shortly promoted to principal of the Orinda Elementary School, where he worked for over 30 years, and then moved on to Del Rey School in Moraga. Keith was a popular educator, both with the children and the teachers. He touched countless lives in significant ways, demonstrating his love of people and of learning.

Keith also served in a number of Church responsibilities over the years, including many years working in the Oakland, CA and Denver CO temples. Again his talents for getting along with people and lifting the spirits of those around him were evident and appreciated by many people.

Keith and Rheta were the parents of 4 children; Merle, Nancy, Jim and Bruce. They were blessed with 17 grandchildren, and 49 great-grandchildren to date. Family was the focus of his life, and he was dearly loved. He adored Rheta, and always found his greatest joy in her happiness.

He possessed a quick wit and a ready laugh; never at the expense of others, but always kind and lots of fun. His grandchildren treasure sweet memories of the time they spent with Spanky, each seeing his example of goodness, and all being inspired to live an honorable life as he did for 93 years.

Surviving are his widow, Rheta of Centennial, CO; daughter Merle Pratt (Reo) of Minneapolis, MN; daughter Nancy Boyd (Steve) of Cherry Hills Village, CO; son Jim Burnham (Sally) of Temecula, CA; and son Bruce Burnham (Pauline) of Highland, UT.

There will be a small family service on Monday, March 30, 2020 at Horan McConaty Funeral Home in Centennial, CO. Due to the current precautions in place regarding Covid19, only immediate family members may attend. Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Notes and cards are preferred in lieu of flowers at this time. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be scheduled for later in the year.